2017-06-13

Fairy Meadows & Hunza valley

Day 01 Sunday – 09.07.2017Islamabad – Besham – Chilas Early morning departure from Islamabad at 5:30 amWe depart early and drive to Besham via Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. After a short break at Besham, we resume our drive on Karakoram Highway, along River Indus. We will make photo stops at Shatial Rocks with ancient graffiti's on it. We reach Chilas and transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 02 Monday – 10.07.2017Chilas – Raikot Bridge – Karimabad After breakfast, we start driving to Raikot Bridge and onwards driving on KKH, we make a few photostops at Thalechi with Nanga Parbat viewpoint offering breathtaking views of snow covered massif. The next stop will be at the Unique Point where three mountain ranges, Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindu Kush meet, near the confluence of Indus and Gilgit Rivers.We bye pass Gilgit town and keep our drive on KKH. En route, we cross several villages of Hunza & Nagar valleys and make a photo stop at Rakaposhi view point. We take off from KKH and reach Karimabad where we transfer to hotel for overnight stay.Ultar, Hunza Dome, Bublimating, Spantik and Diran are famous peaks surrounds us at Karimabad, while Rakaposhi at 7788m dominates the whole panorama. At Karimabad, we visit Baltit Fort Museum & Altit Fort and evening is free to explore the village and bazaar.

Day 03 Tuesday – 11.07.2017Karimabad – Excursion Khunjerab Pass via Atabad LakeGetting up early in the morning will enable to witness unique natural phenomena of sunrise at Rakaposhi and other peaks ( optional ). After an early breakfast, we will make an excursion of Khunjerab Pass via Atabad Lake, Gulmit, Passu and Sost.

Day 04 Wednesday – 12.07.2017Karimabad – Raikot Bridge – Fairy MeadowsAfter early breakfast at hotel, we drive to Raikot Bridge on KKH and onwards to Jail / Yail ( Tato ) by jeeps on one of the most thrilling routes in North. From Yail, we start hiking / pony riding to Fairy Meadows, one of the loveliest places in world.It is a hike of about three to four hours to the legendary place Fairy Meadows, which is truly named with unsurpassed views of Nanga Parbat. At Fairy Meadows comfortable standard accommodation is available besides camping.Fairy Meadows is the ablation valley of Raikot Glacier at the foot of Nanga Parbat - 8125m, the lone giant of Himalayas and the second highest in Pakistan after K-2.

Day 05 Thursday – 13.07.2017Fairy Meadows – Excursion Base Camp of Nanga ParbatA soft trek of two to three hours, walking through the dense pine forest and later through birch trees and along shallow streams, takes us to Beyal, a summer settlement of shepherds with stunning views of Nanga Parbat - 8125m.If the track is open, we will make an optional hike to base camp crossing tails of glaciers with well identified track. At base camp, a monument had been erected in the memory of climbers died on the mountain. After a packed cold picnic lunch at base camp, we will return to our campsite at Fairy Meadows and enjoy a unique and memorable night at the foot of Nanga Parbat and in the land of fairies with bonfire.

Day 06 Friday – 14.07.2017Fairy Meadows – Yail – Raikot Bridge – Chilas – NaranAfter an early breakfast, we start walking down Jail and drive to Raikot Bridge and onwards driving on KKH, we drive to Chilas and further enjoy another adventurous drive to cross the Babusar Pass and reach Naran.Day 07 Saturday – 15.07.2017Naran – Balakot – IslamabadEarly breakfast and departure for drive to Islamabad making a lunch stop en route. On arrival, drop at one designated place in Islamabad.